Chapter 62

The separate mindscape where only phantoms existed collapsed.

I closed my eyes against an excessively bright light, and when I opened them again, I was back in the world of the night sky and flowing Milky Way.

“What in the world… You destroyed all the phantoms in exactly one quarter-hour!”

Hwang Si-mong looked at me, unable to hide his shock.

He was so startled that even his voice was shaking.

“There has never been a record like this once in the Illusory Hwang Clan’s history. How in the world did you do it?”

I shrugged my shoulders.

“I still have plenty of shortcomings.”

“Shortcomings? Seventh Young Lord, your potential has gone beyond anything that can be expressed in words!”

Inwardly, I was pleased.

I knew I had done well, but I had not expected it to be to this extent.

“So my potential is sufficiently proven, I assume?”

“Of course. Sit over here.”

At a wave of Hwang Si-mong’s hand, the surroundings changed in an instant.

The night sky vanished, replaced by an interior filled with old-fashioned books and a faint, pleasant fragrance.

On the table between Hwang Si-mong and me sat two teacups. The aroma I had just smelled seemed to be coming from this tea.

“Is this real tea?”

Hwang Si-mong smiled faintly.

“What is real and what is fake? Such things are nothing more than notions lodged in the mind.”

“Keep it short.”

“…It is fake. Something replicated from reality through the Dream-Walking Formation.”

“Nice. So you can even do things like this.”

“There are times I wish to leave the outside world behind and stay here forever.”

We sipped tea for a while without speaking.

“My first impression of you was truly shocking. Who would have thought you would flatten the Elder Council Lord’s nose the moment you joined the cult?”

“You must not have been very fond of the Elder Council Lord.”

Hwang Si-mong burst into hearty laughter.

“Hoho, that is rather direct. Are you perhaps aware of the Illusory Hwang Clan’s situation?”

“I have picked up bits and pieces. I heard things are hard for you in many ways. Something about how the day you are expelled from the Seven Demonic Houses is not far off.”

Hwang Si-mong wore a bitter expression.

“…A comment that chills the bones, yet one that is entirely possible. To prevent that, we needed a way out.”

“Was getting close to the Demon Bell Geuk Clan also because of that?”

“That is true, however… this is strange.”

“What is?”

“You seem to know the Demon Cult’s situation a little too well. It is as if you had lived here for a very long time.”

Inwardly, I flinched.

I had been trying to move the conversation along quickly, but at this rate I was only going to arouse needless suspicion.

“I, uh, did some research. Because I want to survive.”

“I see. Survival truly is the greatest motivator of all. Every human is born with the instinct to survive. The reason for this is…”

“Let us talk about the Demon Bell Geuk Clan instead. In truth, you hate them more than anyone, do you not?”

When I cut him off, Hwang Si-mong paused for a moment, then went on.

“The Demon Bell Geuk Clan is the foremost house of the Seven Demonic Houses. On top of that, their First Young Lord is a powerful candidate for the next Cult Leader, so we had no choice but to maintain a close relationship with them. Yet their tyranny grew worse. They treated the Illusory Hwang Clan like their hands and feet. Up to that point it was tolerable, since it is the Demon Cult’s law that the strong rule. However, the reason I came to hate them… is because they erased the future of my clan in its entirety.”

I had a feeling I knew what he was about to say.

Sure enough, Hwang Si-mong let out a deep sigh and spoke.

“The First Young Lord killed Seung-jong’s soul.”

Yes. That.

“Seung-jong possessed the Illusory Demon Talent. He was a once-in-a-century genius, the only child who could wield the clan’s ultimate arcane arts passed down through the generations. But after losing to the First Young Lord, he completely collapsed. He was not a weak child who would break over something like that.”

I could feel a suffocating frustration in Hwang Si-mong’s voice, something that still refused to loosen.

It seemed he did not know in detail what tricks the First Young Lord had used on Hwang Seung-jong.

“Originally, your third son should have been a Little Demon. In that case, you would never have needed me.”

“Just having a Little Demon under one’s wing changes a clan’s standing. Yet in this generation we failed to produce a Little Demon for the first time, and so our clan’s position became unstable. But that is all in the past.”

Hwang Si-mong fixed me with a piercing gaze.

“I have decided to stake everything on you, Seventh Young Lord. You are the only Little Demon with the possibility of suppressing the First Young Lord.”

“Everything? That sounds like a dangerous gamble.”

“The stakes are that great.”

That much was true.

“I will assist you in every possible way. With the bold course you have shown so far and the overwhelming potential I have just confirmed, you can certainly bring about a result that will shake the world.”

That result would be the future where I become the next Cult Leader.

‘Sorry, but that will never happen.’

I did not have the slightest interest in becoming the next Cult Leader.

Is there any other position in the world that bears such heavy obligations?

Even the Heavenly Demon, who looked like he lived as he pleased, bore the weight of a million followers and the entire Demon Cult head-on.

If not for him, the Demon Cult might already have crumbled like a sandcastle.

“I do not want to say anything definitive about such a future. I will simply do my best to make sure the Illusory Hwang Clan is not expelled from the Seven Demonic Houses.”

To do that, I would have to stand in open opposition to the Demon Bell Geuk Clan, but that did not matter.

I was bound to clash with Great Sahyung anyway.

If the Illusory Hwang Clan was on my side then, things would be much easier in many ways.

‘Time to say what I want to gain.’

“I have two conditions. First, the defenses of Hidden Cloud Pavilion. As you may have heard, there was an unfortunate incident with the Hundred-Succession Heuk Clan. Because of that, there was even an assassination attempt on me during the Sacred Flame Festival.”

“If it is Heuk Jin-pung, he is more than capable of that. Once his eyes roll back, there is no telling what he might do. In the near future you may have to endure assassins’ attacks while eating, while sleeping, even while answering nature’s call.”

This was true.

Which was exactly why I brought it up.

“I heard the Illusory Hwang Clan has formations that block intruders superbly. Could you install one of those for me? I would like to relax a bit at Hidden Cloud Pavilion.”

“Very well. I will install a top-grade formation that blocks intruders. No, I will even assign our clan’s strongest sorcerer to you. If that person stays by your side through the twelve double-hours of the day, you will never be in danger.”

At Hwang Si-mong’s forthright answer, I tilted my head slightly.

No matter how important my safety was, he was really going to stick his strongest sorcerer to me all day?

He could secure Hidden Cloud Pavilion with formations alone.

“…The second condition is the really important one.”

“It has to do with the Four Great Forbidden Regions, I presume?”

“That is right. I have to break through the Frozen Plain.”

At my words, Hwang Si-mong’s expression turned grave.

“Do you know what sort of place the Frozen Plain is?”

“Hmm, a dangerous place?”

“The Frozen Plain is also called the Ice-Soul Demon Realm. Not only is there an endless blizzard there, but also extremely ferocious demonic beasts. What is truly terrifying, however, is the reason it is called a demon realm. The illusions generated by the demonic qi there reject all outsiders and infinitely duplicate the paths. The odds of never coming back once you enter are overwhelming.”

“And yet, Clan Head, you know how to break through it.”

I smiled calmly, as if I knew everything already.

Hwang Si-mong asked.

“May I ask what you intend to find there?”

“A single blade of grass.”

“It must be very precious.”

“In a way.”

“There are several essential elements for breaking through the Ice-Soul Demon Realm. Fortunately, I can provide all of them except for one. Yet that one is a problem.”

“What is it?”

“The Revealing Truth Treasure Mirror. Only that can reveal truth within the demon realm’s illusions. However, the Treasure Mirror vanished long ago. Now it has become an item whose whereabouts no one knows.”

Hwang Si-mong spoke with a sigh.

It seemed the most important of the two conditions I had presented was now far out of reach.

He was probably thinking everything we had discussed so far might fall through.

“Hehe. And what if I happen to have that mirror?”

The hand mirror I had taken after killing the Acid Dragon at the Fire Spirit Grounds.

That was the Revealing Truth Treasure Mirror.

Hwang Si-mong’s eyes opened as wide as they could.

“Is it true that the Treasure Mirror is in your hands?”

“Of course.”

“Hoho, how far do you intend to go in surprising me?”

“Either way, since I have it, everything becomes possible, does it not?”

“Of course!”

“Then, let us sum things up.”

I summarized the conversation we had shared.

The Illusory Hwang Clan would support me in many areas, assign their strongest sorcerer as my escort, and fully back me in breaking through the Frozen Plain.

In return, I would side with the Illusory Hwang Clan and stand against the Demon Bell Geuk Clan.

Some parts were rather vague, but this was enough for now.

We could decide on the detailed terms little by little.

“However, there is one part that bothers me a little.”

“Tell me.”

“I am not sure how realistic this is. Are you not losing too much, Clan Head? For the sake of just one person, your clan will be spending no small amount of resources.”

Hwang Si-mong smiled leisurely, much as I had a moment ago.

“It is more than feasible. Only one type of resource needs to be spent on you.”

“How so?”

“You said you saw it earlier.”

“Earlier? I do not recall seeing anyth–”

I cut myself off without meaning to.

Surely, he did not mean that?

“The optimal resource to solve all of your problems is Seung-jong. Take that boy with you.”

For a moment, I was at a loss for words.

It had felt strange from the moment he said he would assign me the clan’s strongest sorcerer, but so this was the twist.

“That solution seems a bit odd.”

“Seung-jong is the future of the Illusory Hwang Clan. He will be a warrior worth a hundred men.”

“Earlier you said that that future had been erased completely.”

“Meeting you made me realize it. That it might not be erased yet.”

“Wait, based on what?”

“I saw your soul.”

“You can see that?”

“I saw it with my heart.”

“Ha.”

Hwang Si-mong was incredibly brazen.

No wonder he was the head of one of the Seven Demonic Houses.

This boiled down to ‘fix Hwang Seung-jong up and use him,’ nothing more.

‘And even if I fix him, it will only end up benefiting the Illusory Hwang Clan.’

As if he had read my thoughts, Hwang Si-mong added a few words.

“To break through the Ice-Soul Demon Realm, you need a special talent that can resonate with the source of the illusions and at times even use them in reverse. I call that talent the Illusory Demon Talent. If that child regains his former sharpness, he will become a tremendous strength to you.”

I fell silent for a moment, lost in thought.

Most of what Hwang Si-mong said made sense.

I had heard about Hwang Seung-jong’s talent many times in my past life as well.

He was extremely gifted in spell arts and formations, so he would be a great help in many areas.

The same would hold true when it came time to face Great Sahyung.

Just as Ak Mu-jin kept the Elder Council Lord in check, Hwang Seung-jong could keep Great Sahyung in check.

‘I do have a way to revive his fighting spirit for sure.’

If I tell him what Great Sahyung did to him, his eyes will probably go round with shock.

“All right. Let us do it that way. Although I suggest you expand the range of ‘every possible way’ quite a bit.”

“Of course. I will.”

Hwang Si-mong rose from his seat and bowed his head to me.

“Why are you doing this all of a sudden?”

“I know very well what I am asking of you. Yet I keep having the feeling that simply being with you will let that child realize something. Think of me not as a clan head, but as a foolish father, and please help that boy stand up again.”

Before I could answer, the space rippled. At the same time, the faint fragrance at the tip of my nose vanished.

I was standing outside the Clan Head’s Hall.

Hwang Si-mong was nowhere to be seen, as if he had never been there in the first place.

“Young Lord! Are you all right? You were in there for so long that I thought something might have happened.”

Im Yeon ran over with a face full of worry.

“Nothing happened.”

My gaze turned to Hwang Seung-hyu.

Without a word, he cupped his fists and bowed politely to me.

“Do you know what we talked about in there?”

“My father transmitted part of the conversation’s content to me. I thank you for handling it so calmly, even though it must have been sudden.”

‘Transmitted?’

I was mildly curious, but there was no real need to know.

My head was already full as it was.

I got straight to the point.

“Where is your younger brother right now?”

“By now he should be at Gangmu Tavern.”

“A scion of the Seven Demonic Houses is not at a proper wine house but a common tavern?”

Hwang Seung-hyu answered with a bitter look.

“My father cut off Seung-jong’s allowance. Since then, he has drifted from tavern to tavern, drinking on credit.”

A snort of laughter escaped me.

What an absurd fellow.

I shook my head and turned my body.

“Let us go.”

“Where do you mean?”

To the flustered Im Yeon, I answered offhandedly.

“To Gangmu Tavern. Let us go recruit a comrade.”